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President Rupiah Banda is today expected on the Copperbelt Province where he is scheduled to officially open the Copper Smelter at Chambishi Copper Refinery in Chambishi.
According to a programme released by the Provincial Administration in Ndola yesterday, the President was expected to touch down at South Downs Airport in Kalulushi at 08:00hours.
He will then proceed to the Chambishi Copper Smelter where he will be received by the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia and some senior government officials.
President Banda is among other things expected to unveil the footstone of the plant and tour the plant.
He will then have a private lunch at Itimpi in Kitwe after which he is expected to depart for Lusaka from South Downs Airport.
MORE than two million litres of petrol arrived in the country yesterday in Government’s effort to control the shortage of the commodity.
And Government has refuted reports that there is a shortage of all petroleum products across the country, saying there are adequate stocks of diesel.
Minister of Energy and Water Development, Kenneth Konga said in an interview yesterday that more than 28 trucks carrying 980,000 litres of petrol were cleared at Nakonde border post and offloaded the commodity in Ndola.
Mr Konga said another 28 trucks which came through Chirundu border offloaded more than 980,000 litres of petrol in Lusaka Province.
“So far, more than 56 trucks carrying petrol have been cleared at both borders and we are expecting more trucks to be cleared today to ease the petrol shortage,” Mr Konga said.
He said Indeni refinery yesterday offloaded 300,000 litres of petrol on the market.
Mr Konga urged members of the public not to panic and said the situation is expected to normalise by today.
“I can assure Zambians that things will normalise today because Government is doing everything possible to arrest the situation,” he said.
Mr Konga said Government is expected to import 30 million litres of petrol and that Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are expected to import 11 million litres.
Government has since suspended the 25 per cent import duty imposed on OMCs to enable them speed up the supply of petrol.
And Mr Konga has refuted reports that there is a shortage of all petroleum products, saying the only commodity which is in short supply is petrol.
“All the petroleum products except petrol are in excess supply, including diesel,” Mr Konga said.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted yesterday at most filling stations in Lusaka revealed that petrol is still in short supply.
Some managers at some filling stations said they were expecting enough stocks to be offloaded by evening.
“We are expecting petrol tonight (last night) and we are hopeful that the situation will normalise,” one manager said.
And Energy Regulations Board (ERB) acting executive director, Lukonde Mfula says no filling station is hoarding petrol.
Mr Mfula said all the filling stations inspected are selling all the stocks of petrol in their possession.
“All the filling stations across the city are selling what they have…no filling station has been found hoarding petrol,” Mr Mfula said.
Last Saturday, Mr Konga directed the ERB to conduct a random dipping survey in filling stations to ascertain if they are hoarding petrol.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Government has passionately appealed to Zambians to use the country’s 45th independence celebrations to promote unity in diversity.
Chief Government Spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said unity in diversity was one sure way of honouring heroes that fought for the political independence of Zambia.
Lt.Gen Shikapwasha said this when he launched the 2009 independence week on the national broadcaster, the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) last evening.
He urged Zambians in the political, social and religious realms to put aside their differences and celebrate independence with the oneness it deserves.
He called on political parties, civil society and religious groupings to mobilize their members and celebrate the independence anniversary in peace and unity.
Lt. Gen Shikapwasha, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, said unity in diversity was an effective recipe for achieving economic independence, which the country so much desires.
He appealed for the preservation of the unity and peace which Zambia has enjoyed in the last 45 years of political independence.
Zambia celebrates her 45th independence anniversary on October 24th.
THE UPND/PF pact says attempts by suspended UPND Namwala MP Robby Chizyuka to break the pact will not yield any positive result because he has no capacity to do so.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, co-spokesperson of the pact Charles Kakoma said Major Chizyuka has no capacity to break the pact.
Mr Kakoma said Maj. Chizyuka’s attempt is in vain and that ‘the revolutionary wing of the pact will sweep him away’.
He said if Mr Maj. Chizyuka wants to test the ability of the pact, he should resign, adding that he won’t be able to retain his parliamentary seat.
“If he wants to test his ability, let him resign from the party and go and test the people of Namwala because, I can assure him, he will lose should he attempt to re-contest the seat,” he said.[quote]
Mr Kakoma said the disciplinary committee will meet this Wednesday to determine Maj. Chizyuka’s fate.
“Major Chizyuka has not even responded to the charges levelled against him, so the disciplinary committee will be meeting to determine his case and, whatever his fate, he will be informed,” Mr Kakoma said.
Maj. Chizyuka on Saturday vowed to ensure that the pact between his party and the PF is broken because it does not represent the wishes of the majority in the party.
He was suspended from the party a week ago for allegedly inciting some party members to oppose the pact.
Maj. Chizyuka said he will not relent in speaking out against the pact until it is abandoned.
He said no threat of expulsion would force him to resign from the UPND because he loves the party and has spent a lot to ensure that it got to its current status.
PRESIDENT Banda’s lawyer Christopher Mundia says he will resume contempt of court proceedings against Post editor-in-chief Fred M’membe in the Lusaka High Court.
This follows the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the Post’s appeal in a case in which Mr Banda sued the company for defamation of character and contempt of court.
“We are going to apply to the court for new dates of hearing contempt proceedings. As soon as the court gives us fresh dates, the case will resume,” Mr Mundia said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
Last Friday, the Supreme Court dismissed the whole appeal with costs to Mr Banda on grounds that it has no merit.
The appeal was against Lusaka High Court Judge Charles Kajimanaga’s ruling which dismissed two preliminary issues raised by The Post in contempt proceedings against M’membe.
On September 26, 2008 Mr Banda, who was acting President then, filed a writ of summons and statement of claim in the High Court to seek damages for defamation by The Post.
Through Mr Mundia, Mr Banda simultaneously applied for an ex parte order of interlocutory injunction to restrain The Post from publishing libellous words against him.
The ex parte order was granted on September 27, 2009, but the next day the newspaper published allegedly defamatory articles, which were perceived to be a defiance and disregard of the injunction order the court granted earlier on.
Mr Mundia then filed summons for leave to commence contempt proceedings against M’membe.
But on October 2, 2008 The Post, through its lawyers George Chisanga and Remmy Mainza, raised two preliminary issues.
The first preliminary issue was whether it was proper for Mr Mundia to swear to the affidavit on behalf of Mr Banda in such a highly contentious matter.
The second was whether the ex parte order for leave to commence contempt proceedings, granted to Mr Banda, must be vacated on grounds that such an order is provisional and is liable to be vacated on sufficient grounds.
In his ruling, Mr Justice Kajimanga said he was satisfied that the affidavit in support of an ex parte application for leave to commence committal proceedings was properly deposed and he accordingly dismissed the preliminary issues.
This prompted Mr Mainza and Mr Chisanga to appeal to the Supreme Court where Mr Justice Silomba and Supreme Court Judge Peter Chitengi heard the appeal.
In his judgement, Mr Justice Silomba said the Supreme Court clearly understood that Mr Mundia’s application for leave to commence contempt proceedings against M’membe was in compliance with procedure under Rule 2(1), (2) and (3) of the Supreme Court Rules.
Lusaka province minister Lameck Mangani (l) listens to works and supply minister Mike Mlongoti (r) in Lusaka
THE MMD has said it is not shaken with the recent loss in the Kasama Central parliamentary by-elections to the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) and that it will be concentrating on re-organising the party.
Acting MMD spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti said the party was not shaken because it was aware that it gave the opposition a good run during the campaigns, which caused them sleepless nights.
Mr Mulongoti, who is Works and Supply Minister, in an interview yesterday said despite the loss, the MMD was confident that it was still in control of most provinces in the country.
“As a party we are not shaken about the loss because that is the game and we will now concentrate on re-organising our party.
‘‘How can we be shaken when the opposition were spending sleepless nights fighting for survival,’’ he asked.
He said the MMD would continue to base its campaigns on issues and not on personalities and reiterated that it was commited to contributing to the development of the country.
The loss of elections was nothing to be ashamed of because the MMD party believed in a democratic process unlike other parties which would have raised alarm if they had lost.
Recently, PF leader Michael Sata is reported to have said President Rupiah Banda and former president Chiluba were licking their shame over the MMD defeat in the recently-held Kasama by-elections.
1. Fuel shortage has peristed in Lusaka. Motorists queue up for gas in Chilenje township
2.Women beating drums during a kitchen party at Arakan Barracks in Lusaka
3. Sent in by LT Blogger: This is the vehicle in wich North-Western Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Nkololo Hazemba and three others were using. The vehicle lost control due to a rear left tyre whose outer cover peeled off, causing the vehicle to overturn several times.
4. Sent in by LT Blogger: This is the vehicle in wich North-Western Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Nkololo Hazemba and three others were using. The vehicle lost control due to a rear left tyre whose outer cover peeled off, causing the vehicle to overturn several times.
5.Sent in by LT Blogger: This is the vehicle in wich North-Western Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Nkololo Hazemba and three others were using. The vehicle lost control due to a rear left tyre whose outer cover peeled off, causing the vehicle to overturn several times.
6.Sent in by LT Blogger: This is the vehicle in wich North-Western Province Deputy Permanent Secretary, Nkololo Hazemba and three others were using. The vehicle lost control due to a rear left tyre whose outer cover peeled off, causing the vehicle to overturn several times.
7. Sent in by LT Blogger: Stanley Chewe a retrenchee at Nampundwe receives his certificate of completion as community Mobilizer from the First Lady madam Thandiwe Banda during the launch of the KCM-DAPP Child AID partnership project.
8. Sent in by LT Blogger: First Lady Thandiwe Banda presenting a certificate of completion to Mitchel Chipili during the launch of the KCM-DAPP Child AID project in Nampundwe
8. Vice president George Kunda's wife Ireen addressing soldiers' spouses during a fundraising event in Lusaka
10. Deputy director of epidemiology and diseases control,Dr Bushimbwa Tambatamba confers with UNICEF deputy country represantative, Elspeth Erickson during the Lusaka district risk reduction sensitisation programme at Chawama basic school programmes
11. A Chawama basic shool pupil, Stephen Sichilima demostrating how to keep himself health by using water and soap during the Lusaka district risk reduction sensitisation programme at Chawama basic school programmes
12. (From left to right)Lusaka District Commissioner, Christah Kalulu,Chawama area member of Parliament,Bredt Sampa Deputy director of epidemiology and diseases control,Dr Bushimbwa Tambatamba and UNICEF deputy country represantative, Elspeth Erickson watching a sketch(not in picture) during the Lusaka district risk reduction sensitisation programme at Chawama basic school programmes
13. Individual brilliance... A keep Zambia crafted by a resident of Garden twoship in Lusaka encouraging good and clean surroundings in Lusaka
14. A statue on the keep Zambia clean campaign by a resident of Garden township in Lusaka
15. A disused garbage bin behind Arcades shooping centre in Lusaka
16. A couple chatting oblivious of the dump site behind them despite efforts by the keep Zambia clean campaign in Lusaka
17. Street hawkers peddling their wares along the great east road at Mandhill shopping centre
18. A model poses for a photograph during a boxing bout in Lusaka
19. Boxing enthusiasts cheering their fighters during the African Boxing Union bouts in Lusaka
20. Women boxing fans go agog after their Zambian bxers triumphed during the African Boxing Union matches in Lusaka
21. Zambian Precious Makina (l) and South African size eachother before a boxing match at Nationalist stadium in Lusaka.
22. A south African boxing coach shouting instructions to his boxer who was being 'pounded' in the ring
23. Zambia's charles Wasaja' Chisamba about to pound Tunisia's Faisal Arrami during the African Boxing Union fight in Lusaka. Arrami won by knock ou
24. Zambia's charles Wasaja' Chisamba and Tunisia's Faisal Arrami exchange blows during the African Boxing Union fight in Lusaka. Arrami won by knock knock
25. Zambia's Down and out... Zambia's Charles Wasaja' Chisamba rests on one knee after being knocked out by Tunisia's Faisal Arrami during the African Boxing Union fight in Lusaka
MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba says the MMD has exhausted all administrative procedures to persuade former Minister of Defence George Mpombo to follow party procedure and that the nation should not judge the ruling party harshly if punitive action is taken against him.
Reacting to Mr Mpombo’s reported sentiments that the MMD national executive committee (NEC) cannot make the right decision over the holding of the party convention because it is under siege from President Banda, Dr Kalumba said he is listening carefully to calls by MMD members to discipline Mr Mpombo.
“I am listening carefully to the calling of the people and at some point I will consult fully on the course of action to take,” Dr Kalumba said.
He said Mr Mpombo knows that the party has exhausted all administrative procedures required to afford him (Mpombo) an opportunity to behave in accordance with an MMD members’ obligation under article 10 of the party constitution.[quote]
“I have gone beyond constitution imperatives, considered a political dimension of Mr Mpombo’s status as Member of Parliament of Kafulafuta.
I have been working with leaders on the Copperbelt and the constituency in Kafulafuta to seek their intervention to counsel the honorable member in such a way that we can avoid punitive measures that may deprive the people of Kafulafuta of effective representation and also cost the taxpayers millions of Kwacha in a by-election,” Dr Kalumba said.
He said Mr Mpombo wants to force a by-election in Kafulafuta by disregarding the assurances he made to his office to follow party procedure.
“I am certain that the people of Zambia will not judge the MMD harshly when punitive action is taken against Mr Mpombo,” Dr Kalumba said.
He said, however, that he has no reason to stifle democratic debate because the MMD was founded on the principle of plural democratic processes.
“I am not blind to the fact that there is a thin line between democratic debate and chaotic anarchical provocative utterances that are simply designed to deal with the individual’s personal ego problems. It is quite easy to respect egoistic problems of an individual for heroic politics,” Dr Kalumba said.
Dr Kalumba said he is not persuaded that Mr Mpombo is engaged in a healthy and constructive democratic debate.
“And I will make My covenant (solemn pledge) between Me and you and will multiply you exceedingly”
(Genesis 17:2, AMP)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
God is in the multiplication business. It doesn’t matter what your need is today, God wants to increase you.
One time in the Old Testament, God simply multiplied the sound of four men’s footsteps and caused them to sound like a mighty army. When their enemies heard them coming, they took off running. Thousands of people, thousands of troops running for their lives, scared to death, thinking they were being attacked by a massive army, when in fact, it was just four people.
Friend, God can make you seem bigger than you really are. He can make you look more powerful. He knows how to multiply your influence, your strength, your talent. He can multiply your income or whatever else you need! You don’t have to figure it all out. All you have to do is believe. If you will release your faith and get up every day expecting God’s far and beyond favor, then you’re going to see God show up and do amazing things. He’ll bless you beyond your wildest dreams and multiply you in every area of your life!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
“Father God, thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. Thank You for Your promise to bless and multiply me. Direct my steps and keep me close to You as I stand in faith for the good things You have in store for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
A two-member Zesco United technical committee team begins its player scouting mission at the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup in Zimbabwe this week.
Club secretary Justin Mumba said the team will comprise Zesco executive committee member and ex-Under-17 team manager Hastings Ndovi and assistant coach and former Nkana goalkeeper Emmanuel Mschili.
“They will leave next week and will focus on the matches involving Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi,” Mumba said.
Zesco are scouting for foreign strikers for next years prospective continental club campaign.
The defending champions have striker worries with Enoch Sakala and Nicholas Zulu struggling to find the target for most of the season.
Zesco currently lead the Faz Premier Division table on 54 points, three points ahead of Zanaco who could only draw 1-1 away to second from bottom Nakambala Leopards.
Mumba said the club was delighted that Zesco were back on top and focusing on retaining their league title.
“We just have to remain focused and we cannot relax,” Mumba said.
Police in Siavonga have opened a docket against Chief Simamba of Siavonga District on allegations that he allegedly assaulted his 34 year old female subject.
Sources at Siavonga police station confirmed to ZANIS in an interview that they have recorded a statement from the woman who is alleged to have been physically assaulted by the traditional leader.
The named victim, a resident of Kanyelele compound on Friday filed in an official complaint against the chief at the police station.
She told ZANIS in an interview that she decided to report the matter to the police because the traditional leader had inflicted pain on her body.
She narrated that on Thursday last week, chief Simamba ordered his retainers to apprehend her when she went to buy charcoal from villagers in the chiefdom.
“I was arrested by the chief’s retainers last week on Thursday after I was found buying charcoal from some villagers in the chiefdom,” she narrated.
The victim disclosed that upon being handcuffed and dragged to the chief’s palace by the retainers, the chiefs ordered that her hands be tied around a tree.
She added that after tying her hands, the chief pulled out a shambok which he used to cane her buttocks.
“I was canned several times on the buttocks by the chief after my hands were tied around the tree, “narrated the woman.
The victim further added that canning the woman, the chief further ordered that she was left on the scotching sun carrying her child on the back and was left to stay there from 14 to 18 hours.
She revealed that the chief could not compromise despite explaining to him that she had bought a permit from the department of forestry authorizing her to purchase charcoal.
“I tried to reason with the chief telling him that I had bought a permit from the forestry worth K 108, 000 but he could not listen and just went ahead canning me, “ she said.
The victim confirmed that she was not the first one to receive such kind of treatment from the traditional leader saying several people that are dealing in charcoal business have suffered at the hands of the chief.
And a medical report signed by a Doctor Bulungu from Siavonga District Hospital which was availed to ZANIS indicated that the 34 year old had suffered swollen buttocks and painful left arm.
Police have indicated that investigations into the matter are currently going on and that the chief is likely to appear in court soon.
But when contacted on phone over the allegation, Chief Simamba promised to get back to this reporter but failed to do so by press time.
Forum for Political Parties (FPP) chairperson Edwin Sakala has urged Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande to diplomatically ask the British government to recall its envoy to Zambia Tom Carter.
Mr Sakala urged government to utilise the laid down diplomatic avenues to ask the Britain to recall its envoy in Zambia citing undiplomatic interferences in the internal political affairs of the [country.
The FPP chairperson said that Zambia expects diplomatic missions accredited to Zambia to help mould and strengthen the tranquility, peace and harmony which the Southern African nation has enjoyed since independence from its colonial master in 1964.
He urged the British government to utilise the internationally accepted and recognized communication channels to comment on matters that concern Zambia.
Mr Sakala disclosed that up to date the British envoy has failed to respond to FPP’s recent petition presented to him saying the action showing a typical character of the British imperialism and hegemonic attitude on its former colonies in Africa.
He said the petition was meant to condemn the action by the envoy, to meddle in the decision of the Zambian judiciary on the acquittal of the former Zambian president Dr Chiluba.
A fortnight ago, the FPP presented to the British High commissioner to demonstrate against his action of meddling in the internal affairs of the country.
In the petition, the forum also demanded for information on how much the British government has expended to the Task force since its establishment.
Meanwhile FPP has called on the British Government to appoint a commission of inquiry to probe the gross violence of human rights perpetrated by the task force on corruption against specific individuals using the tax payers’ money.
In a press statement to ZANIS Sakala said his association has since written to Home Affairs minister Lameck Mangani demanding that British opposition party leader, David Cameron and the British foreign secretary David Milliband to check on the activities of the British envoy to Zambia to help get the information they need on the Task Force.
He added that the decision by Mr Carter demonstrated an attitude of double standards saying that they were the same people that did take a position when some Zambians were maliciously prosecuted on fabricated charges.
He accused the British government of heavily funding a few individuals to constitute the task force on corruption in Zambia and get hefty allowances by trumping up charges against specific individuals using their surrogate media to criminalize such individuals.
Mr Sakala wondered why some civil society organization who were approach and talked to regarding the violation of the human right violation remained silent about what was going on but have now come out in the fore front to crusade a campaign against the acquittal of Dr Chiluba.
The FAO commends government for increased budget allocation on agriculture
representative Noureddin Mona has commended government for increasing the budgetary allocation to the Agricultural sector.
Mr Mona told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the move will ensure food security in the country.
He said this will result into increased out put of agricultural produce and would help in mitigating the impact of food shortages.
He said the free zones of agriculture storage facilities in the country will develop small and large scale faming.
Mr. Mona said agriculture has the potential to develop the economy of the nation if all policy is well implemented.
Government has in the 2010 National Budget allocated K100 billion to the Food Reserve Agency, FRA, for strategic food reserves and an additional K10 billion for the Food Security Pack (FSP) to mitigate the high cost of food and ensure household food security.
The Ministers’ Spouses Club (MSC) yesterday officially handed over medical equipment on behalf of government to three health centres worth more than K300million in Chongwe district.
And the association has also donated mattresses, blankents, bed sheets and worth about K18million to Chinyunyu and Kankumba Health Centres.
Officially handing over the medical equipment on behalf of government, yersterday, second lady Ireen Kunda called on the Private Sector and other stakeholders to supplement governments’ efforts by assisting the less privileged in the community.
Mrs. Kunda said this is because government alone cannot manage to help all the less privileged hence the need for more concerted efforts from the stakeholders.
The Vice Presidents’ wife said the global financial crisis has immensely affected governments’ ability to deliver effectively to the less privileged in the community.
And Chinyunyu Health Centre (CHC) Clinical Officer-in-Charge Mpheza Banda thanked government and the Ministers Spouses Club for the gesture.
Ms. Banda said the medical equipment handed over and the mattresses, blankets and bed sheets will go a long way. She however also called on the Ministers Spouses Club to continue with the good work of assisting the community.
POLICE in Mpulungu have denied granting a permit to PF-UPND pact cadres who had wanted to hold a solidarity march to celebrate their victory in Kasama Central.
The cadres were yesterday planning to hold celebrations slated for today for their Kasama Central by – election victory but their plans were thwarted by police in the area.
In a statement co-signed by the pact’s district chairman Reuben Chisenga and District Secretary Muchinzi Mwazya, the two party officials stated that the solidarity march would not go ahead as planned.
And in a separate interview, Mr Mwazya expressed disappointment that police had infringed on their constitutional rights to assemble and freely express their feelings by denying them a permit.
He dismissed some of the reasons advanced by police to deny them a permit as flimsy.
Mr Mwazya, who also the Pact Secretary, said among the many reasons given by police were that the celebrations could have triggered a counter reaction from MMD cadres that could have endangered peace in the township.
He however noted that a celebration was not a protest of any kind and felt that police had treated his members unfairly because if MMD had won, they would have been allowed to celebrate without any restrictions.
Mr Mwazya also pointed out that it wouldn’t have been possible for the PF-UPND pact to have given police a seven day notice in advance as they were claiming because it was not clear who would emerge victorious in Kasama.
” The PF-UPND pact will now watch closely and with interest on how police will react if MMD wins any by-election in the near future. We shall closely observe how they are going to handle such a case,” Mr Mwazya stated.
Mwazya appealed to police to be professional and discharge their duties in the public interest.
He further added that his members were saddened because they had been denied a chance to celebrate together with their colleagues in Kasama, saying the Kasama central by- election was an important victory for the PF-UPND pact.
Efforts to get a comment from police in the area proved futile by press time.
The PF-UPND pact’s candidate Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba on Friday won the Kasama central by-election with 10 688 votes and was followed by MMD’s Burton Mugala who got 4184 votes.
